Before we get into this, I want to be very clear on something. We know people that have literally been in studio at WIP and have witnessed both Howard Eskin and Joe Giglio plan out their segments based on how to stir up as much noise as possible. These statements are specifically designed to upset as many Philly sports fans, and it works like a charm, time and time again.

With that, we stumbled across another prime example of this yesterday, with Joe Giglio and Howard Eskin discussing the Philadelphia 76ers. I know, at first you’re shocked that Howard Eskin is still alive. Then it hits you that he’s talking about basketball. Then you realize that the conversation is happening with a guy who looks like he used to ask the teacher in high school if she was going to collect homework before the end of class.

All of it is a lot to take it at once. I get it.

Nope, not linking the actual post. That’s exactly what they want you to do. If you want to listen to it, by all means go find it on Twitter. I won’t transcribe the whole thing. If you want to hear the whole interaction out of some misguided sense of masochism, go right ahead.

About eight minutes into his appearance Eskin lays out his bold strategy for the 76ers

“Now I don’t want people to hate me here… I think after the season… The Sixers have to trade Joel Embiid.”

He continues (paraphrased)

After Eskin makes his case to trade Embiid, Joe Giglio limply debates him about how important Joel is to the Sixers with all of the enthusiasm of a hungover substitute teacher. The segment does its job. Howard Eskin gets his unfounded shots in on Joel Embiid.

Howard Eskin is a liar.

There is nothing Howard Eskin loves more than being hated. He’s a cheap wrestling heel. He picks on players he knows people feel passionately about to bait his listeners into being irritated. We all know this. It’s the old Philly Sports Talk Radio way and again, it works like a charm for those who can’t resist the temptation of losing their minds on social media.

Case in point: In this appearance he made a big showing of saying how much better Nikola Jokic is than Embiid. Then he dances around calling Embiid lazy and selfish before saying he has to be traded.

It’s all very calculated bullshit that WIP is known for.

The important thing to remember is that Howard Eskin’s act as a know-it-all sports guy has been belied by very poor real world judgment.

An example: being a man in his fifties and using the AIM handle “theKing610” to try to meet up with college girls online. Then sending that “college girl” a dozen red roses that sets off a chain reaction that leads to her murder when it turns out she was actually a 47 year old woman in a troubled marriage.

To be clear I’m not blaming Eskin for Marlene Stumpf’s murder. I am pointing out that he showed horrific judgment in spite of spending every second he was on air launching baseless attacks on every caller and athlete he encountered.

Howard Eskin has a long history of intentionally upsetting people.

This was a guy that twenty years ago, blatantly accused Allen Iverson’s attorney of witness tampering when he knew for a fact it wasn’t true. Turns out when you publicly accuse an attorney of a felony, they sue you into oblivion. 

I could list more troubling things Eskin has said and done. That feels moot. He does these things to get people to talk about and write about him. He’s a professional troll. His wannabe heir apparent Joe Giglio can’t hold a candle to him in that regard.

And for all the fake profile, burner Twitter handles, stating that Joe Giglio didn’t agree with them and that the criticism towards him isn’t right, he’s enabling all of this to happen and that’s all just a part of the strategy you idiots. Time to wake up.

But say what you will about Joe Giglio and his lame brained hot takes, at the very least he only looks like a guy that kills women.

Seriously. He looks like he’s going to be featured on the next season of Mindhunter in his WIP headshot.

Maybe that’s the real story here? Who is the station photographer and why does he hate Joe Giglio?

Anyways, this is just another prime example of WIP and the desperate need for a change in Philly Sports Talk Radio. From Angelo Cataldi in the mornings, to whatever Joe Giglio and Howard Eskin do at night, it’s all complete and total bullshit.

Philly deserves better than to be baited into these stupid debates and we as listeners have the power to influence change. Unfortunately, the majority of listeners to WIP fail to realize that.

Mandatory Credit: Evan Agostini—Getty Images